Automatic railroad-crossing-gate-operating mechanism.



vA. G. SIMKINS. AUONIATIC RAILROAD CROSSING GATE OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26. I9I7.

1,282,005. Patented 00u15, 1918.

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Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD CROSSING GATE OPERATING NIECHANISM. APPLIcAloN FILED FEB. 25. 1911.

A. G. SIMKINS. AUTOMATIC RAILROAD CROSSING @AIE OPERATING IIIECIIANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2B. 191i'. r 1,282,005 Patented oct.. I, 191s.

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@nl BY @y 7% l/Wf ALEXANDER G. SIIVIKINS, OF GRIIVIES, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAID-CROSSING-GATE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. i5, isis.

Application filed February 26, 1917. Serial No. 151,017.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER G. SIM- nrNs, citizen of the United States, residing at Grimes, in the county of Colusa and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Railroad-Crossing Grate Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specication.

This invention is an automatic gate operating mechanism for gates at railroad crossings, adapted to be actuated by a train to close the gate before the train reaches the crossing and to open the gate after the train has passed the crossing.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the right half of the invention, with the mechanism set to be actuated to close the gate by a train approaching from the right.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the left half of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the right half of the invention with the mechanism set to be actuated to close the gate by a train approaching from the left.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the left half of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views of one of the sliding bars of the mechanism in its successive operating positions.

Fig. 8 is a view of an element of the mechanism adapted to be actuated to cause the mechanism to close the gate after the train has passed the gate to the left thereof.

Figs. 9 to 15 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of certain parts of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a cross sectional view of the track taken on line 16 of Fig. 1 showing the tripping element.

Fig. 17 is a view of certain parts of the resetting elements showing how the two elements are connected.

Figs. 18 to 20 inclusive are views of the other sliding bar in its successive operating positions. v

The invention includes a gate l comprising a pair of weighted gate members 2 and 3, pivoted respectively at 4 and 5 on standards 6 andy 7, and provided with weights 8 and 9 adapted to swing said gate members into open position.

.in arm 10 is fixed to the gate member 2 at the side of the pivot 4 opposite the weight 8, to the lower end lof which arm is connected a cable 11. Said cable extends over a pulley 12 mounted on standard 6, pulley 13 mounted on a standard 14, and pulley 15 mounted on a frame 16, and it is connected to a weight 17 which is adapted when released to overbalance the weight 8 and pull the gate member 2 down by means of the cable. From the weight 17 said cable eX- tends over pulleys 18 and 19 on the frame y16 and is connected to the upper end of a lever 20 pivoted at 21 to a standard 22. To the lower end of said lever is connected one end of a rod 23, the other end of which is connected to the lower end of a lever 24, pivoted at to a standard 26.

On the upper end of lever 24 is a segmental element 27 having two shoulders 28 and 29 adapted to be engaged by a dog 30 pivvoted to the track rail 31 at 32. The dog 30 has an upstanding arm 33 which projects through a slot 34 in a bar 35 slidably mounted on rollers 36 journaled on the rail 31. In Fig. 2 the dog 30 is in engagement with shoulder 29 whereby the gate member 2 is held in open position through the medium of lever 24, rod 23, lever 2O and cable 11 as shown in Fig. 1.

A tripping arm 40 is connected to the lever 24 and extends upwardly between and above the rails of the track when the dog 30 is out of engagement with the shoulders 28 and 29, and is adapted to be engaged by the cowcatcher of the engine to swing the lever 24, and, through its connections swing the gate member 2 into open position, and bring the shoulder 28 or 29 into engagement with the dog 30, according to the direction of travel of the engine, to lock the gate member 2 in open position. A tripping element is provided to be operated by the cowcatcher of the engine for moving the bar 35 to the left to cause the end Aof the slot 34 to engage the dog arm 33 to disengage the dog from the shoulders 28 and 29, so that the weight 17 may drop and swing down the gate member 2 into closed position. Said tripping element comprises a shaft 46 journaled in bearings 47 secured to the under side of the track rails, an upstanding arm 48 projecting upwardly between and above the track rails, in the path of the cowcatcher of the engine, and an upstanding arm 49 which projects :through a slot 50 at the right end of the bar 35.

A bar resetting element is provided for lOO returning the bar to its initial position so that the dog 30 may drop into engagement with the shoulder "28 when the train has passed and actuated the tripping element e5 and the gate mein )ers have been swung down into closed position. Said resetting element comprises a weighted shaft 51 jonrnaled in bearings secured to the under side of the track rails, an arm o8 projecting upwardl)T between and above the track rails in the path et the cowcatcher, 'an engaging arm oel, and an angle lever 55 pivoted to the track rail B1, the arm 5? ot which ef@ tends through a. slot 58 in bar 35 and arm 59 thereot' beine1 adapted to be engaged. by the arm :il when the arm 58 and shaft 51 are moved to left by 'the engagementot the cowcatcher with the arm The structure of the gate meniber 3 and its operating mechanism are similar to the structure the gate member 2 and its operating mechanism. rihe operating mechanism tor the gate member will now be described.

il cable GG is connected to the arm 61 of the gate member 8, (which arm corresponds to arm 10 of gate :2), and passes over pulleys 62 on standard Y, pnlle7 on standard 64:, pulleyY 65 on frame 5G and is connected to a weight 6'? adapted when released to overcome the weight and swing the gate ineinber 2 down ii o close-d position. Said cable extends from `he weight 5'? over pulleys 68 and 69 on the trame 66, and is connected to the upper end oi lever TO pivoted to a standard 72, ine rod 28 while connected to leversI 2G and Ql also connected to the lower end of lever 70 and to the lower end ot' a lever Z 1 which is pivoted at T2 to standard 73. l segmental element 7-1 is secured to the upper end of lever Y1 and has two shoulders 7.5 and 7G adapted to be engaged by a dog T7 pivoted at T8 to the track rail 79 to lock the gate member in open position.. rl`he dog 7T has an arm 80 which projects through a slot 81 in a bar 82 slidably mounted at the side of rail 79. l tripping arm 83 is connected to the lever 7l and extends upwardl)Y between and above the track rails when the dog il is out ot engagemen with the shoulder, To and if), and is adapted to be engaged big, the conicatcher of the engine to swing the lever 71 and through its connectie s swing the gate member 3 into onen position and bring the shonlder 75, or 765 into eigagen'ient with the dog` 77, acccrding to the direction et travel or' the engine, to loclr the gate member 3 in open position.

A tripping element 85. sl iilar to tripping element is provided toi moving the bar 82 to the right to cause the end of slot 81 to engage the dog arm 8O to disengage the dog from the shcnlders T1 and TG. so that the weight 6'? may drop wing down the gate men'iber 2 into closed position. Said univ tripping element comprises a shaft 8G journaled in bearing; 87 secured to the under side of the tracl; rails, an arm 88 extending npwardlv ironi said shaft between and above the track rails in the path of the coweatcher ot the engine and an arm extending` npwardlv from said shaft through a slot 89 at the lett end of the bar 82. A bar resetting element 90 provided for returning the bar 82 to its initial position so that the dog 7'? m y drop into engagement with the shoulder 'T6 when the train has passed and actuated the trpping element 85 and the gate Vobers have swung down into closed position.. Said resetting element comprises a weighted shaft 91 journaled in bearings secured to the under side of the track rails, an arm projecting upwardly between and above t ie track rails in the path of the cowcatcher, an engaging arm 99k, and an angle lever pivoted at to the track rail 79E the ai which extends through a slot 98 in inc bar 52 and the arm 99 thereof being adapted to be engaged by the arm 9i when the arm 93 and shaft 91 are moved to the right by the engagement of the coweatcher with arm 93. l rod 100 is connected at its res vective ends to an arm 101 depending from the shaft 8G of tripping element 85 and go e8 ot tripping element e5, whereby said tripping elements are operated svnchrononslj.7 when either is operated b v the cowcatcher oit the engine., and the bars and 82 are moved to disengage both dogs 30 77 synchronously from the shoulders` oi' segmental members 553'? and 7i, so that both gate members mayY swing down together undei` the influence ot' their weights. Arms 195 and 10G are respectivelv provided on the angle levers and 95, which arms are connected by a rod 10T7 whereby the angle levers are caused to operate synchronously. The operation of the invention is as follows:

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figs. 1E 2 and 9,y and a train is approaching the crossings from the right side, the cow-catcher of the engine iirst engages the arm 18 oi' the tripping element 45 and b v the engagement ot' the arm 49 with the end of slot 50 moves the bar S5 to the lett; during which movement of the bar the end of the slot 34e engages the arm 38 and lifts the dog 80 out of engagement with the shoulder 29, whereupon the weight 17 drops and swings the gate member :2 down ino closed posit-ion and swings the lever 2O and lever 2li and arm el() through rod 2S into vertical position., as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

During said operations the rod 100 is moved to the left by arm 48 and by means of arm 101 the tripping element 85 is actuated and the arm 88 thereof engages the end o1 slot 89 and moves the bar 82 to the right; which movement of the bar 82 causes the end of the slot 81 to engage the arm 80 and disengage the dog 77 from the shoulder 75, whereupon the weight 67 drops and swings the gate member 3 down into closed position, and also swings the lever 71 and arm 83 through rod 23 into vertical position, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. The connection of the levers 20 and 70 by rod 23 insures synchronous operation of the gate members 2 and 3. As the bars '35 and 82 are respectively shifted to the left and right during said operations, the arms 57 and 97 of angle levers 55 and 95 respectively, of the resetting elements are engaged by the ends of the slots 58 and 98 respectively in said bars and swing to the left and right respectively, and the arms 59 and 99 are swung up adjacent the arms 54 and 94 of the resetting elements. As the train travels farther to the left of the tripping element 45, the cowcatcher engages the arm 53 of the resetting element and swings said arm to the left, which causes the arm 54 to engage the arm 59 of the angle lever 55, and swing the arm 57 thereof to the right, whereupon the arm 57 engages the right end of slot 58 and shifts the bar 35 to the right back to its initial position, during which movement the end of the slot 50 engages arm 49 and resets the tripping element 45, and the end of the slot 34 shifts to the right and permits the end of the dog 30 to drop upon the curved surface of the segmental element 27, as shown in Fig. 8. As the angle lever 55 is operated by the arm 54, the angle lever 95, through arms 105 and 106 and rod 107, are swung to the left, whereupon the arm 97 engages the end of the slot '98 and shifts the bar 82 back to its initial position, during which movement of the bar the end of the slot 89 engages arm 88 and resets the tripping element 85 and the end of the slot 80 shifts to the left and permits the end of the dog 77 to drop upon the curved surface of the segmental member 74. Vhen the train has traveled past the gate, the cowcatcher engages the arm 40, which is then in its vertical position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and swings said arm to the left, whereupon thelower end of the lever 24 is swung to the right and the levers 70, 20 and 7l, through rod 23 are swung into the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4, during which movement the levers 20 and 70 through cables 11 and 60, lift the weights 17 and 67, and the weights 8 and 9 in turn swing the gate members 2 and 3 into Y open position and open the crossing.

When said parts have been swung into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the dogs 30 and 77 drop into engagement with the shoulders 28 and 76 of the segmental members 27 and 74 and lock the parts in said position and allow the gate to remain open under the influence of weights 8 and 9. The mechanism is now again set to be actuated to close the gate by a train traveling in either direction.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and a train is approaching the crossing from the left side, the cowcatcher of the engine first engages the arm 88 of tripping element 85 and by the engagement of the arm 88 with the end of slot 89 moves the bar 82 to the right, during which movement of the bar the end of the slot 81 engages the arm 80 and lifts the dog 77 out of engagement with shoulder 76, whereupon the weight 67 drops and swings the gate member 3 down into closed position, and swings the arm and lever 71 and arm 83 through rod 23 into vertical position as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. During said operations the rod 100 is moved to the left by arm 101 and the tripping ele ment 45 is actuated and the arm 49 engages the end of slot 50 and moves the bar 35 to the left, which movement of the bar causes the end of the slot 34 to engage the arm 33 and disengage the dog 30 from the shoulder 28, whereupon the weight 17 drops and swings the gate member 2 down into closed position and also swings the lever 24 and arm 40, through rod 23, into vertical position as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

As the bars 82 and 35 are respectively shifted to the right and left during said operations, the arms 97 and 57 of angle levers 95 and 55 respectively of the resetting elements are engaged by the ends of the slots 98 and 58 respectively in said bars and swung to the right and left respectively, and the arms 99 and 59 are swung up adjacent the arms 94 and 54 of the resetting elements. As the train travels farther to the right of the tripping element 85, the cowcatcher engages the arm 93 of the resetting element and swings said arm to the right which causes the arm 94 to engage the arm 99 of angle lever 95 and swing the arm 97 to the left, whereupon the arm 97 engages the left end of the slot 98 and shifts the bar 82 to the left back to its initial position, during which movement the end of the slot 89 engages the arm 88 and resets the tripping element 85 and the end of the slot 81 shifts to the left and permits the end of the dog 77 to drop' upon the curved surface of the segmental element 74.

As the angle lever 95 is operated by the arm 94, the angle lever 55, through arms 106 and 105 and rod 107, are swung to the left, whereupon the arm 57 engages the end of the slot 58 and shifts the bar 35 back to its initial position, during which movement of the bar the end of the slot 50 engages the arm 49 and resets the tripping element 45, and the end of the slot 34 shifts to the right and permits the end of the dog 30 to'drop upon the curved surface of the segmental member i7. "if

'Yhen the train has traveled past the gate, the coivcatcher engages the arin- S23, Which is then in its vertical position, as shoivn in dotted lines in i, and swings said arm to the right, 'whereupon the loiver end ot the lever 7l is swung to the lett and the levers 20, and 2l, through rod 23, are svrnng to the lettinto the position shoivn in Figs. l and during which movement the levers 'TO and Q0, through cables 60 and ll, litt the Weights (Si and l?, and the Weights 9 an "L S in tarn siving doivn the gate members 3 and "2 into open position and open the gate. lll/Then said parts have been swung into the position Shown in Figs. l and 2, the dogs 77 and 30 drop into engagement with the shoulders '75 and Z9 or the segmental members 'il and El and loch the parts in said position and alloiv the gate t@ remain open. The mechanism is novv again set to be actuated to close the gate bv a train traveling in either direction.

Having described my invention what l claim as neiv and desire to secure bv Letters atent is:

l. A railroad crossing gate mechanism comprising a gate for the crossing, means actuated bv the approaching train to close said gate betere the train reaches the crossing, means actuated by the train :tor open ing` said gate after the train has passed the crossing, and means actuated bv the train ior resetting said gate closing means at'ter the gate has been opened.

2. il. railroad crossing gate mechanism comprising a gat-e tor the crossing, a lever, a dog-coacting part on said lever, a Weight connected to said gate, a lever connected to said Weight, a rod connecting said levers1 a dog for engaging said dog-coacting part and holding said Weight connected lever in such position that said lever holds said Weight up, so that said gate maf,7 remain in open position, a reciprocative bar tor engaging said dog and a tripping element engaging said bar and adapted to be engaged by the approachingtrain to shitt said bar to disengage said dog trom said dog-coacting part and allon7 said Weight to drop and close said gate.

8. A railroad crossinggate mechanism comprising a gate tor the crossing, a` lever, adog-coacting part on said lever, a Weight connected to said gate, a lever connected to said Weight, a rod connecting said levers, a dog tor engaging said dog-coacting` parY and holding said weight connected lever in such position that said lever holds said Weight up, so that said gate mayv remain in open position, a reciprocative bar for engaging said dog and a tripping element engaging said bar and adapted to be engaged by the appreaching1 train to shift said bar to disengage said dog trom said dogcoacting part and allow said Weight to drop and close said gate. and means for resetting said parts after the train has passed the crossing, 'whereby7 said iveight is raised and the gate is opened.

l. il railroad crossing gate mechanism comprising a gate tor the crossing, a lever, a dog-coacting part on said lever, a Weight connected to said gate, a lever said weight, a rod connecting said levers, a dog tor engagingl said dog-coacting part and holding said Weight connected lever in such position that said lever holds said weight np, so that said gate may remain in open position, a reciprocative bar tor engaging said dog and a tripping element engaging said bar and adapted to be engaged by the approaching train to shift said bar to disengage said dog trom said dogcoacting part and allenT said Weight to drop and close said gate, a resetting element adapted to be actuated by the train after passing said tripping element to return said bar and said tripping element to their initial position, and an arm on said first lever to be engaged by the train after the train has passed the crossing, to siving saidlever and the Weight connected lever to raise said AWeight to open the gate.

Si railroad crossing gate, mechanism comprising a gate tor the crossing, said gate comprising tivo gate members, alocking lever tor each gate, a dog-coacting part on cach lever, a Weight connected to each gate, a lever connected to each Weight, a, rod connecting each locking lever to one of said Weight connected levers, a dog :tor engaging the dogcoacting part on each locking lever, and respectively holding said Weights up so that said gate members maT remain in open position, a reciprocative bar for engaging each dog and a tripping element engaging each bar, one of said tripping elements being adapted to be engaged by a train approaching in one direction and the other tripping element being adapted to be engaged bv a train approaching in the other direction to shift either bar to disengage the dog trom the dog-coacting part ot either locking lever and allow either Weight to drop and close either gate member.

6. il. railroad crossing gate mechanism comprising a gate tor the crossing, said gate comprising tivo gate members, a locking lever for each gate, a dog-coacting part on each lever, a Weight connected to each gate,

lever connected to each Weight, a rod connect-ing each locking lever to one of said "Weight connected levers, a dog tor engaging the dog-coacting part on each locking lever, and respectivelyT holding said nf'eights up so that said` gate members may remain in open position, a reciprocative bar tor engaging each dog anc a "ripping element engaging each bar, one oi said tripping elements being adapted to be engaged by a train ap-v connected to proaching in one direction and the other ytripping element being adapted to be en gaged by a train approaching in the other direction to shift either bar to disengage the dog from the dog-coacting part of either locking lever and allowl either weight to drop and close either gate member, and means for resetting the operated parts for each gate member after the train has passed the crossing, whereby the weight connected to the operated gate is raised to open the gate.

7. A railroad crossing gate mechanism comprising a gate for the crossing,said gate comprising two gate members, a locking lever for each gate, a dog-coacting parton each lever, a weight connected to each gate, a lever connected to each weight, a 4rod connecting each locking lever to one of said weight connected levers, a dog for engaging the dog-coacting parton each locking lever, and respectively holding said weights up so that said gate members may remain in open position, a reciprocative bar for engaging each dog and a tripping element engaging each bar, one of said tripping elements being adapted to be engaged by a train approaching in one direction and the other tripping element being adapted to be engaged by a train approaching in the other direction to shift either bar to disengage the dog from the dog-coacting part of either locking lever and allow either weight to drop and close either gate member, and a resetting element for each bar adapted to be actuated by the train after passing the tripping element to return the operated bar and tripping element t0 their initial position, and an arm on each locking lever to be engaged by the train after the train has passed the crossing to swing said lever and its associate weight connected lever to raise the lowered weight to open the closed gate,

8. A railroad crossing gate mechanism comprising a g'ate for the crossing, said gate comprising two gate members, a locking lever for each gate, a dog-coacting part on each lever, a weight connected to each gate, a lever connected to each weight, a rod connecting each locking lever to one of said weight connected levers, a dog for engaging the dog-coacting part on each locking lever, and respectively holding said weights up so that said gate members may remain in open position, a reciprocative bar for engaging each dog and a tripping element engaging each bar, one of said tripping elements being adapted to be engaged by a train approaching in one direction and the other tripping element being adapted to be engaged by a train approaching in the other direction to shift either bar to disenffage the dog from the dog-coacting part of either locking lever and allow either weight to drop and close either gate member, a reting element for setting element for each har adapted to be actuated by the train after passing the tripping element to return the operated bar and ,tripping element to their initial position, and an arm on each locking lever to be vengaged by the train after the train has necting each locking lever to one of said.

weight connected levers, a dog for engaging the dog-coacting part on each locking lever, and respectively holding said weights up so that said gate members may remain in open position, a reciprocative bar for engaging each dog and a tripping element engaging each bar, one of said tripping elements being adapted to be engaged by a train approaching in one direction and the other tripping element being adapted to be engaged by a train approaching in the other direction to shift either bar to disengage the dog from the dog-coacting part of either locking lever and allow either weight to drop and close either gate member, a reseteach bar adapted to be actuated by the train after passing the tripping element to return the operated bar and tripping element to their initial position, and an arm on each locking lever to be engaged by the train after the train has passed the crossing to swing said lever and its associate weight connected lever to raise the lowered weight to open the closed gate means connecting both tripping elements so that both elements will be actuated to shift both bars and disengage both dogs from the dog-engaging parts of both locking levers synchronously, and means connecting both of said weight connected levers so that both levers may be swung to enable both weights to drop and close both gate members s vnchronously or to raise both weights to enable both gate members to swing open synchronously.

10. A railroad crossing gate mechanism comprising a gate for the crossing, said gate comprising two gate members, a locking lever for each gate, a dog-coacting part on each lever, a weight connected to each gate, a lever connected to each weight, a rod connecting each locking lever to one of said weight connected levers, a dog for engaging the dog-coacting part on each locking lever.

and respectively holding said Weights up so that said gate ineinloecs may ieinain in open position a ecipiocative bai` foi' engaging each dog and a tripping element engaging each bar, one of said tiipping` elements heing adapted to he engaged by a train appioaching in one diiection and the other tripping eleinent being adapted to be engaged by a train appioaeliing in the other dieotion to shift eithei1 hai' to disengage the dog from the dog-coacting part of either looking lever and allow eithei1 Weight to drop and close either gate nienihei', a iesetting elenient :for each bai adapted to 1oe actuated by the tiain after passing the tripping elenient to ietuin the operated hat and tiipping element to then' initial position,

Genies ci this natent mev he obtained foi' ve cents each, by addessing the and an aun on each locking lever to loe engaged by the train after the train has passed the crossing to swing said lever and its asso ciate Weight connected lever to raise the loiveied Weight to open the closed gate, ineans connectingboth tripping elements so that both elements will he actuated to shift looth hars and disengage both dogs troni the clog-engaging parts of both locking levers synchronously, and nieans connecting both resetting elements so that both elements *ill he actuated to shift both bars and tiippingr elements back to their initial position synchronously.

ln testimony Wheieof l aliix iny signature.

ALEXANDER e. siinnns.

Commssonei of Patents.

Washington, G, 

